Why Do Women Look Straight Ahead When Passing Men?

Question

I am not trying to be sexist or anything... but this is something I noticed from a majority of women. Let's say you see a woman in the mall, she doesn't have to be attractive, but you pass her and look at her, she just continues to look ahead like she doesn't even notice you, like you are invisible. 

I notice this with a lot of women - when they pass a guy, they don't even look at the guy, don't blink, have a blank expression on their face and just stare straight ahead.

BigPunny · Accepted Answer

I would have to say that women do this for three reasons:

1) Because they aren't available at the time (boyfriend, husband, etc).

2) Because the person passing them isn't striking their interest and they don't want to give that person the wrong impression.

3) Because she finds the man so attractive that she becomes shy and introverts herself because she doesn't know what to say at that moment.

Granted, I'm sure there are other reasons, but I've found these three reasons - especially #1 and #2 - to be true in nearly every instance.

Number 2 is likely the biggest reason, because there are a LOT of guys that will cling to any woman that is NICE to them. This is sad, because it pushes a lot of women into the realm of 'not a nice person', but she's doing it because she likely got sick to death of men that believe eye contact means the woman is interested. It sounds insane, but it is very true.

Anyway, I'm not a woman, but I'm pretty sure these are the reasons.

SaintRichie23 · Accepted Answer

This is just a theory, but maybe, just maybe, she is just walking straight ahead and isn't darting her eyes at every single person that is passing her by. She does it, I do it... I feel like most people don't stare at every single person in view of them lol

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Alright I'm gonna be straight up and you're not going to like it. They're afraid. Every single day of our lives we have to judge in a millisecond if a guy is safe or not. If we think he's not and he is, we get yelled at and called a bitch, tease, slut etc. If we think he's safe and he's not, well, we could get raped or killed.
In the case or not making eye contact, it's a defense mechanism. Eye contact can egg some guys on, make them target us. These defense mechanisms are a part of our lives. Don't walk down this street, take this route at this time, don't get drunk at parties. Sure, it's great to stay safe, but not when these things change the way we live.
And yes, I do know not all guys are rapists, but there are enough to be scared everyday.

MaskedSanity · Accepted Answer

Because if you make eye contact, often guys view it as a sign of interest when it's not.

Have you seen the number of questions on here about how some chick's made eye contact and the asker wondering if she likes him?

We don't want random guys thinking we're interested.

kaylaS91 · Accepted Answer

To dissuade any possible creepers from taking the glance and possible eye contact as an invitation to make a really nasty remark or giving us one of these:

Gdtestqueen · Answer

Many of us have been taught from an early age to do that as a form or self-protection. Even if we weren't taught it by our moms and dads we learned it quickly enough ourselves.
If a woman looks the wrong man in the eyes, it opens up the door for cat calls and the like. Or in the cases or our worse nightmares... being followed home and raped only to be accused of "asking for it".
But don't take it too bad... if you look at many women walking around you'll find that its not just men they don't look at - it's other women. Thing is that we are generally thinking about 30 other things and not bothering about everyone around us, just making sure we don't bump them, lol.

TheDevilInside · Answer

Possibilities:
- lack of self confidence
- don't find you attractive
- just doesn't notice you because she's not exactly looking around
- is already taken so not looking for a flirt
- knows you were staring and doesn't want to give you the impression that she likes you.
- knows you were staring and she just is too shy to look back

PonyCar · Answer

Why make eye contact w/someone you have no interest in interacting with?

All it takes is one creeper or desperate (i. e. insanely unattractive) individual (s) to make you regret ever making eye contact with them. From that second onward, they feel entitled to your time and will pitch a fit if you don't give them what they feel they deserve. Total waste of time.

XRabbitHeartX · Answer

Well the reason is this... we don't always have guys on our mind or the people around is in public. We have things to think about and things that occupy our minds that might distract us. When I walk to and from places especially at the mall I'm not really paying attention to people around me. I'm thinking of my shopping, what I have to do that day, things that are worrying me, uni, upcoming tests and exams... so basically it has nothing to do with you nor should it be taken as a insult of some kind. It just means we're not really thinking of other people right now and are thinking of something else. Also just remember girls can get shy too. We aren't all confident queens who like to look guys dead in the eye always. We get insecure days where we want to be left alone or days when we are feeling depressed/sad. That might influence us to look away and not directly at people.

LightsOff · Answer

Because... they're not noticing you? Their world doesn't revolve around looking at everyone who walks by? Looking at someone might make them think that you're giving them the green light to hit on you? They have stuff to get done? They're focused on something else? They've zoned out? They think it's awkward to look at strangers?

TheGeorge · Answer

She most likely does look at you! Not directly through eye contact, but usually through reflections. That is why women love window shopping, they will pretend to be interested in that dress, but what they really do is watch all the guys who walk past. They do check you out, just not as obviously as men would. And yeah they do for example make photos of attractive guys in the subway and send them to their friends for evaluation. Of course I am totally exaggerating, they don't do it all the time, but if you think they don't check you out, you are surely mistaken. Chances are, you have already been checked out before she even passes you ;)

lilac_flowers · Answer

If I find him attractive, I do it because I'm way too shy to look. I freeze.
If I don't find him attractive, I do it because I don't want him to think I'm interested.
Lately I do it because I have a boyfriend.

nymous123 · Answer

like other girls have said. Eye contact usually makes men say suggestive things or 'encourages' catcalling which we would prefer not to happen. Its something i have learnt from since young to avoid eye contact with men. but as i get older i tend to think whatever, you wanna talk pervy shit go right ahead im not scared.

Applefan1 · Answer

It depends on the woman. Sometimes they have not noticed you are checking them out, other times they may have a boyfriend or husband, they maybe focusing on what they have to get done at the mall and the other jobs they have to do that day, some of them may not like the fact you are checking them out, they maybe shy. Who knows there are any number of reasons. You don't normally talk to random people at the mall.

Prettygurl12 · Answer

Making eye contact opens the door for conversation. It's better to just not even open that door. The end.

BruceJender · Answer

Usually girls will avoid eye contact because:

1) They're not interested

2) Shy

3) Are plain bitches and aren't even worth it.

Situation 1) can be easily deduced by whether they look away when you've mae eye contact and smiled.

If they do smile back, this generally means you can approach them.

Situation 2) will happen when you've made eye contact and she looks DOWN and you might be able to see her blush.

Situation 3) is when they don't pay a nanosecond of attention to you and walk past.

ChocEyes · Answer

Because this is the natural thing to do, don't you think? I mean you're doing your own business, why would you start looking at people around?

I mean, it's one thing to see the environment as a whole around you but why would you look at someone in partiular?

Roostah · Answer

Because 80% of men are deemed unattractive by women. While most men find the majority of women attractive.

Women only look at you if they percieve you to have some value/social status/money. Other than that, you'd have to be really good looking to get a woman to look at you.

Sorry but that's the culture we live in. Males are disposable.

RachelBrigs · Answer

I tend to smile at most people but I don't go out of my way to smile/make eye contact with guys in my age range because that's so easily mistaken for "come approach me" and sometimes even "come harass me" apparently, especially if its a group of guys.

Like teenage boys in groups... especially at the mall or something... oh god. They can be awful.

throwit · Answer

We don't want to glance at a guy and have him think we like them or think that a glance is an invitation to come talk to us. Check all the questions on here by guys saying "this girl tends to glance at me, does she like me?"
Plus personally, I think it's rude to stare at people and I don't want people to think I'm staring and judging them as hey pass by. And I don't like forcing a smile when I glance at someone.

Someguy17 · Answer

In my experience it's because she's not attracted, shy, busy, distracted, in a bad mood, or just not looking. Women always seem to know who's around them. She sees you, trust me. Don't take it personally. If she's interested, she'll generally make some eye contact or show positive body language. If she doesn't, just leave her alone.

RRR23 · Answer

Sigh this is my life women torture me with the staring every day. They all stare and say nothing. Some send me the signals. Some walk past blanked faced mostly oriental women. a lot put their head down and walk by. And the worst ones make an angry face. I ignore then then they put their head down. I don't know what they are thinking lol. I walk through Broadway in Manhattan so Im talking hundreds of women doing this nonsense back to back over and over. And not one of them said Hi. I walk around with a face mask 😷 sometimes because I need a break from that nonsense.

SarahsSummer · Answer

Because, first girls aren't guy crazy like guys are with girls, second we don't want to give you the wrong impression and get stuck being hit on. And third, we're shopping, looking for the next great dress, jeans or pair of shoes, not a dude.

Ярило · Answer

I do that a lot, but that's mostly because I would feel like a creep if someone caught me looking at them. I do it more so with people I find attractive, it's like my mind says "Oh he's attractive. Look at how interesting this floor is."

Anonymous · Answer

There are probably heaps of reasons for this, but for me mainly it's because i was taught that it was rude to stare.
But mainly i look ahead because i don't find the men/women attractive enough to check out. I will check out a guy if he's hot, and i will check out a woman if i love her outfit. But that's about it, why would i stare at someone i'm not into? Who does that?

DarkHumorRUs · Answer

You know why all these guys here ask questions like, "She looked at me, does that mean she wants to fuck me?" Because some girl looked at them in the mall.

Subject0 · Answer

Why would we look at guys in the mall? We're going there to buy stuff, not to stare at strangers. I never notice when someone is looking at me because I don't care if they look at me, I have things to do.

nileve · Answer

I do that do not know I do that with every one.. I been told I have bitch stare so i try to look straight ahead not trying tp make no one feel threaten

Anonymous · Answer

This is a weird question. Some people just don't like eye contact, especially if the person is so closely passing by you. This 'avoidance' is not just dedicated to men though. Staring can be awkward. But I have to say if a man is staring at me when I pass by then I will definitely notice, but it'll give me more incentive to not look at him because having a stranger stare at me makes me uncomfortable so I don't acknowledge it. And do men want women to stare back?

Anonymous · Answer

I do it all the time and to be honest I can't come up with a solid reason. I do it to guys I'm not interested in because I don't want him to approach me thinking I'm interested if he sees me looking at him, however I also do it to guys I DO find attractive, and for that I have absolutely no idea why.

jessi-chan · Answer

Honestly, I do that to everyone, whether male or female. I just don't like eye contact with strangers, it just feels too invasive.

mutedaisy · Answer

I'm trying not to walk into things... That's usually why I will look straightforward.

Watermelonoma · Answer

Tbh its a miracle to me that relationships even happen anymore given how hard women try these days to avoid men

BrianSmith · Answer

My experience is women look at you more from a distance when approaching and this is when eye contact can happen, but as women get nearer they look past you. But that being said, there are exceptions.

Zendrya · Answer

I feel like I'm making people feel awkward if I look at them because I don't really understand what is socially acceptable

Hopefuldreamer8 · Answer

I do this with everyone. It's not gender related. I just simply don't look at other people if i don't know them. Either I stare straight ahead or I stare at the ground.

Illusive_Man · Answer

This. Just this.

Anonymous · Answer

That's what I do when walking past a yard with a barking dog. They don't want to stand out, or being singled out in the mind of the guy, they're trying to pass by without him noticing her, or at least minimising how much he does.

complicated_soul · Answer

I do that. I don't know how to explain why but it's nothing personal. Sometimes I am thinking about somethings.

TrainwreckAdvice · Answer

I am usually on a mission with thousands of thoughts going through my head. I never assume I'm noticed so I never consider how I seem.

WaterNymph611 · Answer

I think that it's because men tend to be more visual than women, so we are less likely to "check out" a stranger, unlike men, who always turn their heads.

Anonymous · Answer

Maybe eye contact eith and acknowledging every single person you pass by is mentally exhausting to women and people in general. lol I actually laughed at the girls here saying they do it because they don't want the guy to take it as a sigh of interest. Many guys, like me for example approach women WE are interested in, regardless of whether they make eye contact with or even notice us. We don't wait for a non-verbal invitation or sign of interest

charades · Answer

Probably we're just hoping to avoid being hit on for the twentieth time that day.

yungmami · Answer

It's a thing we do make it look like we aren't interested sometimes we are sometimes we're just looking ahead.

tyber1 · Answer

They either don't want to give you the wrong impression that they are interested, or they are shy and don't want to give away that they are interested because it would make them feel vulnerable.

RPGamr · Answer

Uhh even I do that, for majority people. Does that make me a woman? :P

R3d_Anonymous · Answer

Because they're jaded from supposedly creepy men hitting on them. It's an attempt to minimize it from happening more.

Anonymous · Answer

Because we find it weird to stare at people and also when some random guy is hitting on us... thinking we are interested... I'm one of those who doesn't Make eye contact ;)

Anonymous · Answer

She doesn't want you to talk to her because you might be a rapist and assault her (in front of all those people too... **rolls eyes**)

James19 · Answer

Reading most comments it seems like fear is the main cause for this.

TheInfamus · Answer

Not sure but I avoid looking at women too, I'm tall so I just look straight past. No point for me to try to make eye contact

Anonymous · Answer

We don't want strangers to think we're interested in getting hit on.

Anonymous · Answer

If he's not making himself notice then why even bother?

Anonymous · Answer

Chances are, we notice you. We just always pretend we don't. I do it too. I don't know why, I guess for me eye contact is awkward.

TheSpartan · Answer

Good question, I get that a lot. I've always assumed that they were just not attracted to me at all.

Anonymous · Answer

Some of us find it sad when we see a real cute guy but we know that we'll probably never see them again😓

thera · Answer

lmao because we don't have to...

IndianaJade1998 · Answer

It makes the guy chase after them

Noxifer626 · Answer

So that pervs don't think they have a chance, duh.

AngryHorny · Answer

Because you scare the shit out of them.

COCOCHANEL · Answer

to avoid them approaching me

Anonymous · Answer

isn;t it obvious? avoiding (eye) contact

Anonymous · Answer

I get glaces from girls all the time.

saralynnmeyer · Answer

you're probably not what they're looking for

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